Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

University of Manitoba - Indigenous Initiatives Fund

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

Ground breaking sustainability innovations through the University of Manitoba’s Indigenous Initiatives Fund have provided new, extraordinary, unique and ground breaking outcomes and practices that address sustainability challenges specific to underrepresented groups that are currently not covered by University of Manitoba programs.

Examples of the projects the Indigenous Initiatives Fund has supported include:A sweat lodge is a sacred and traditional ceremony that has been used for thousands of years to bring physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. The fund helped build a new and unique sweat lodge and teepee, which are fantastic facilities to host ceremonies for students and the university community. These ceremonies include sustainability themes imbedded within Indigenous knowledge of the environment and campus landscape.

The Indigenous Initiatives Fund also enabled the design of a new campus bike kiosk. The bike kiosk supports student sustainable transportation options and incorporates Indigenous Planning and Design Principles, which the University abides by. The kiosk displays Indigenous artistic and language elements, contributing to the innovative Indigenization of the campus environment through unique cultural place making. The University’s Office of Sustainability is exploring land-based Indigenous values through the creation of an online Story Map that will build off of the Vegetation and Biodiversity Assessment, Tree Inventory, input from the Indigenous Land-Based Working Group (Elders, traditional knowledge holders and land-based experts), and research into the historic Indigenous use of campus lands.

The University’s Campus Planning Office is exploring the Indigenization of the campus environment through artistic expression, contributing to unique cultural place making. A small scale sculptural element will be installed near the underground water supply line that enters campus, recognizing the source of Winnipeg’s water and its ability to connect us all.Further information on all of the innovations are found here:

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